Binder for file-cases



N0. 6ll,365. Patented Sept. 27, I898.

F P HUBBARD BINDER FOR FILE GASES.

(Application filed Dec. 30, 1897.)

(No Model.)

Witnesses.

mzla-wfiug Attorneys NITE TATES FREDERIC P. HUBBARD, OF DURHAM, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE MERRIAM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF

CONNECTICUT.

BINDER FOR FILE-CASES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,365, dated September 2'7, 1898.

Application filed December 30, 1897. Serial No. 664,580. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERIC P. HUBBARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Durham, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Binders for File- Cases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to devices for readily securing envelops, cards, &c., in a file or voucher case; and its object is to provide a binder which can be easily attached to the case and conveniently withdrawn when desired to either remove the envelops or cards or to use the file-case as a box for loose papers.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of the lower portion of a file-case, showing the binder when'secured to the case. Fig.

2 is an elevation of the retaining-fork.

Binders have previously been made which are permanently secured to the case, and whatever matter is strung upon them, as envelops, cards, (to, is threaded with considerable difficulty, as the space in a filecase is necessarily limited. Then, again, when the binders are rigidly attached the case can be used for but one purpose-that is, for holding matter that is placed upon the retaining devices.

The numeral 1 designates a plate which is joined permanently to the back of the case and having a longitudinal slot in its face. The retaining-fork 3 is usually made from a piece of wire and bent so as to form a back and two projecting arms, thus leaving an open throat. Inside of the front 7 of the case and secured to the bottom thereof is the forklock 4:, having its extreme ends constructed so as to form a rest portion 5 and a frictioncatch 6 for the free ends of the arms of the retaining-fork 3.

The cards or envelops that are used in my file or voucher case must be provided with suitable holes or eyelets,as is common in this class of office devices. The width of the fork can be made to conform to any standard make of eyelet envelop. To fill my voucher or file case, the fork is removed and the envelops threaded thereon. Thisoperationmaybeperformedin any convenient place and not necessarily adjacent to the file-case, after which the back of the fork is inserted in the slot 2 of the back plate and the free ends of the arms are pushed down upon the rests 5 of the fork-lock and held against disengagement by the fric: tion-c'atch 6. The fork can be reversed, ifso desiredthat is, the free ends of the forkarms can be placed in the slot 2 and the fork,- back held by the fork-lock 4. By having a fork that can beremoved from the case the operation of threading the envelops thereon is very much facilitated, aside from the fact that the file-case can be used asa deposit-box for papers when not used as a file case. Again, by making the fork of pliable material I can fasten a group of envelops or cards together when they are withdrawn from the case by bending the free ends of the forkarms, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, so that the envelops cannot be displaced or becomeseparated, a new fork being used for the next set of envelops placed in the case.

In Fig. 1 I have shown in dotted lines the position of the fork as it is being inserted in the slot 2 and before it is looked, as shown by the full lines.

The front 7 of the case is preferably made slightly higher than the top of the binder in order that it may form a rest for the envelops or cards and hold them in an upright position when they are fastened in the case and when they are being separated, which occurs if the contents of the envelops are being withdrawn or one is referring to the data uponthe cards. The plate 1 and fork-lock 4 can be made, of wire or the back plate can be constructed the same as the fork-lock, or vice versa, without altering my invention, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fall fairly within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A retaining device for file-cases comprising a longitudinally-slotted plate, secured to the said file-case, an independent spring device forming a frictional locking mechanism also secured to the said file-case opposite to the said plate, and a retaining-fork, one end of which is inserted in the slot in the said plate'and the other held against displacement by the locking mechanism, substantially as set forth.

2. In a retaining device for file-cases, the combination of a longitudinally-slotted plate permanently secured to the file-case, an independent locking mechanism secured to said file-case opposite to the aforesaid plate and provided with rest portions and frictioncatches for the retaining-fork and a retainingfork, the opposite ends of which are adapted to be supported and held against displacement by the said plate and lockin g mechan ism, substantially as set forth.

3. In a file-case having a front side of less height than the back side, the combination therewith of a slotted plate secured to the side of said case, locking mechanism secured to the bottom of said case and terminating at either end in a rest and friction-catch, and a retaining-fork, the opposing ends of which are adapted to be held by the said plate and locking mechanism, substantially as set forth.

4. Retaining mechanism for file-cases, comprising a U-shaped binding-fork constructed of pliable material, a slotted plate rigidly attached to the file-case and an independent locking device attached at its central portion to the said file-case and having rest portions near either end thereof which lie in substantially the same plane as the slot in the said slotted plate, and terminating at either end in a frictional catch, all constructed and operating substantially as set forth.

5. In a retaining device for file-cases, the combination of a plate provided with a longitudinal slot of uniform Width, the said plate being secured rigidly to the said case with the said slot substantially parallel to the bottom thereof, a locking mechanism terminating at either end in a friction-catch and secured to the bottom of said case opposite to the aforesaid plate and a removable fork adapted to be inserted in the slot in said plate and locked against disengagement by the said friction-catches, substantially as set forth.

6. In a retaining device for file-cases, the combination of the slotted plate 1 secured to said file-case, the independent locking mechanism 4t secured to said file-case opposite to said slotted plate and the U -shaped fork 3, all constructed and operating substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERIO P. HUBBARD.

WVitnesses:

GEORGE E. HALL, WM. I-I. CHAPMAN. 

